After a few minutes of driving in silence, Haroku leaned forward slightly, breaking the quiet.
"Hey, Symen. How many kilometers do we have left?" he asked, keeping his tone casual but curious.
I kept my eyes locked on the road ahead, running the mental map. "I'd say about three or four kilometers. Not far now. But don't worry about missing it. Once we hit the one-kilometer mark, it'll be blindingly obvious."
Haroku turned his head toward me, raising an eyebrow. "How so?"
I let out a faint chuckle. "Haroku, it's the Spirit Hunter Palace. It isn't just some hidden shack in the woods. From at least a kilometer out, you'll start seeing their official division flags staking the perimeter. Not only that, you'll definitely notice the lower-ranked hunters actively patrolling the outer grid. There's no way we'll miss it."
Haroku nodded slowly, absorbing the logistics. "Makes sense. But by the way, bro... how do you know so much about the Palace layout?"
A faint smile crossed my face as the old memory surfaced. "Because my grandfather actually brought me here once. My memory is perfectly intact."
Haroku's face lit up with genuine surprise. "Oh, that's actually really cool. You've already been here. That explains a lot."
A short pause settled in the cabin before Haroku spoke up again, the curiosity shifting into tactical concern.
"I do have one doubt, though."
I glanced at him briefly. "What is it?"
Haroku took a breath. "You mentioned outer patrols, right? Isn't it highly likely they'll just attack us on sight? I mean, obviously, the grunts on the perimeter aren't going to recognize us."
My expression hardened slightly, though I wasn't worried. "You're not wrong, Haroku. That's a completely valid concern."
He waited for me to elaborate.
But then Makeno spoke.
"The Palace operates under strict engagement rules," She explained. "If an unknown variable enters the perimeter, they don't strike to kill immediately. Protocol dictates they capture and detain. After that, they pass the target up the chain of command for high-rank hunters to investigate and negotiate."
Haroku listened intently, his focus entirely on her words.
"And there's an even more important factor," I continued. "There is a specific individual inside the Palace who possesses a unique information-gathering ability. He can instantly extract everything about a person—name, past, intent, background. They don't execute people blindly just for trespassing. Everything gets verified."
Haroku visibly relaxed, the tension bleeding out of his shoulders. "Oh... so they aren't just a shoot-first operation."
"Exactly," she said.
A sense of calm returned to the car. The earlier anxiety of walking blindly into a fortress had faded, replaced by our usual quiet confidence.
But a few moments later, Haroku leaned forward again, his eyes narrowing as he stared through the windshield.
"Wait," he said slowly.
I followed his line of sight without changing my expression.
A few hundred yards down the road, a solitary figure was moving steadily across the dirt shoulder.
Haroku focused carefully on the silhouette. The person was heavily equipped, moving with disciplined, calculated strides. It clearly wasn't a lost civilian.
"That's got to be one of them," Haroku said quietly.
I gave a single nod. "Yeah. Perimeter patrol."
We both stayed silent for a moment, observing the target.
The hunter's movements were incredibly sharp. There was no hesitation or sluggishness in his gait; every step looked purposeful and entirely aware of the surroundings.
Haroku swallowed hard. "So... what now?"
I kept my foot steady on the gas pedal. "Nothing. We keep driving normally. Do not act suspicious."
Haroku nodded, bracing himself. "Got it."
The distance between the car and the hunter closed rapidly.
I could feel the tension spiking in the passenger seat, even though Haroku was trying his best to hide it. I knew exactly what was running through his head. It was one thing to talk about highly trained supernatural mercenaries; it was another to drive straight up to one.
"Remember," I said calmly, keeping my eyes forward. "Confidence dictates the interaction. If you panic, you instantly become a threat."
Haroku took a deep, steadying breath. "Understood."
Up ahead, the hunter suddenly stopped walking. He turned his body, his posture shifting into total alertness.
Haroku's heart rate visibly picked up. "I think he spotted us."
I didn't respond. I simply took my foot off the gas and let the car coast.
The hunter squared his shoulders toward our approaching vehicle. His attention was completely locked onto us.
"Relax," I ordered, my voice firm and authoritative. "Let him approach."
I brought the car to a smooth halt in the middle of the road.
The hunter immediately began walking toward our front bumper. Each step he took was heavy and deliberate.
"Just stay completely normal," I added quietly.
Haroku nodded again.
As the hunter closed the gap, his spiritual presence became palpable. He had sharp, assessing eyes, scanning the vehicle, the license plate, and our faces through the windshield, breaking down every detail in seconds.
He stopped just a few feet away from my driver-side window.
There was a tense, heavy silence.
Haroku forced himself to sit still, relying entirely on the protocol I had just laid out.
I rolled down the window, looking directly at the perimeter guard without a single trace of fear.
For a second, nobody spoke.
Haroku slowly exhaled. We had crossed the line.
The encounter had officially begun.